IT Park logs in bright prospects

Prolonged hope for an Information Technology park in Tiruchi finally took shape late last year. After the launch of the IT Park on an area of 147 acre at Navalpattu during December 2010, three companies so far: Assyst International, i-Link Software Services Limited, and Seventh Sense Technologies Limited, are in the process of occupying portions of the built-up space of about 50,000 square feet constructed by ELCOT (Electronics Corporation of Tamil Nadu) in the IT Park on the outskirts. The built up area constructed at a cost of Rs.14.5 crore has been envisaged to serve as an incubation centre. More companies, including Scientific Publishing Services, OKS Pre Press Services, and Integra Software Services, have also evinced interest in operating from here.The ELCOT has made in-principle allotment orders for land in the Special Economic Zone area to ten companies. For the smaller companies, operating from Tier-II and Tier-III cities makes business sense since operational costs could be cut down and attrition could be lowered, in a not so encouraging economic scenario in the Western countries. On its part, the State government has also tweaked the eligibility criteria for smaller companies to start their units. When it is fully operational with sufficient number of small and large companies, the IT Park is planned to accommodate 20,000 employees and provide indirect employment to 40,000 people. The total investment is expected to be in the range of Rs.800 crore at the end of five years. Syntel, a global provider of Information Technology and Knowledge Process Outsourcing solutions with global development centres in India and the United States, explored an option to have its centre in the Navalpattu IT Park. The ELCOT was prepared to offer 25 acres. However, since the company's requirement was huge, the ELCOT provided Syntel with 100 acres in the Tirunelveli IT Park. Nevertheless, the IT Park could attract WNS Global Services, a New York Stock Exchange - listed business outsourcing player. The multi-national company, a leading player in BPO, would also possibly be allotted space in the built up area. WNS is believed to be impressed with the calibre of human resource in the region. The visible shortcoming that remains is the stagnation in the initiative taken for re-laying of the 100 feet road that links the IT Park with the Tiruchi-Pudukkottai Highway. The proposal is still said to be pending with the Government. The road has been transferred from the Department of Rural Development to the State Highways. However, funds have not been sanctioned as yet, it is learnt. An impetus will be accorded after the preparatory work pertaining to supply of laptops to students is completed, official sources said, informing that the IT Minister R.B.Udayakumar will visit the IT Park some time during the next few months to take part in a road show and popularise Tiruchi further as a favourable IT destination projecting its locational advantage, and road, rail and air connectivity.